Little Falls transcript., 1887-05-27
/ will bring books, and will teach

I will bring books, and I will teach
you" ~ .~.. -. r.
"You, mamselle!" Andre cried stu
pefed. II an angel from heaven had
offered to teach him, he could not
have been more astonished than at
this condescension from his beautiful
little chatelaine.
''And why not? OF course I shall
not tell Madame Duloc or anybody.
for they would make such a fuss. But
be in the summer.house tomorrow"
OF course Andre did not fail to obey.
He never dreamed of disputing her or
ders, and the lad was wild to learn.
Blanche was an exaeting and impa-
tient little teacher, but Andre was so
bright and eager that in five
months he had almost reached the
limit Of Blanche's own small acquire
nents. She had grown extremely
fond Of the handsome lad, so ready
and willing to amuse her; and AS for
him, he was her abject slave. All dis.
tinctions OF rank were forgotten in
this pleasant companionshlp so soon
to cease.
One morning the Count returned un-
expectedly from Paris. "Where is
Blanche?' he asked Madame Duloc.
"Mademoise|'e is out in the
grounds" she said, TREMENDOUSLY. II
have sent Celine for her"
without you, Madame Duloc!" he
said, sternly; "do you tell me my
daughter is allowed to wander about
alone?"
"Ah, mon Dieu, but she will let no
one follow her!' the poor governess
cried, desperately.
"Since you cannot control the
Countess, madame, allow me to tell
you, your services are no longer need
ed at Beaujolais." The Count strobe
of in search OF his daughter in O. ter
rib]e fury. 1t did not lessen when. aft.
er a half-hour's search, she was not
+ to be found. When near the lake, he
heard voices and laughter in the little
summer. house.
Pushing open the door, he saw a
sight which nearly struck him dumb.
Side by side on the bench sat the rep
resentative Of the Maupassants and
a peasant boy. They were bending
! over the same book, and the golden
cr1rls OF Blanche mingled with the
black hair of her companion
"Blanche!' cried the Count, in a.
voice OF thunder.
The little girl sprang to her feet,
turning pale, but she did not tremble.
What are you doing with that
boy?"
II am teaching him to read, papa"
The little girls tones did not falter,
though she WAS horribly frightened.
Teaching him to read'' the count
was so furious that his voice trembled.
Back with you to the chateau,yo
wicked child, and I will settle with
you later. But you, you bnse-born,
insolent peasant, I will lash you like
the hound you are!" He raised his
riding-whip, but Blanche seized it and
confronted him with pale face and
flashing eyes.
"You shall not strike him, papa!"
she cried. 81 made him come. He
dared not refuse. II you strike any
one, strike me, for l did it,
Andre through his whole life never
forgot that picture. The man with
his face convulsed by fury, the little
girl looking up with her brave eyes,
| ready and willing TO suffer in his stead.
After a minute the Count seemed to
recover himself.
go away from here, boy" he cried,
"tor If ever | meet you again will cut
| off your ears and your tongue! You
to want to learn! Bah!'
This was no idle threat at that time
in France. The grand Seigneurs had
the liberty OF mutilating, or even kill
ing their vassals at their own free will,
and the boy knew that his fathers
house was no longer safe for him.
But his thirst for knowledge, begun
by the lessons of his little mistress,
led him to a Jesuit college, where his
! uncle, g. priest, was one OF the pro-
fessors. There he remained for six
years, while the thunders of the great
Revolution were growing in the dis.
| tance.
When Andre left college, the guillo-
tine had already cut off many Of the
greatest and nobiest names in France.
His education and ability and hatred
OF aristoracy soon secured him q posi-
tion OF confidence with Petion, one of
the Revolutionary leaders.
Andre shuddered at the bloodshed
| and violence which had turned France
into a but cher's shambles, but then
he dreamed that the outcome would
be liberty,
He had heard that the Chateau Of
Beaujolais had been burnt to the
ground, and the count and his daugh-
ter had escaped. Where the count had
gone he knew not and cared less; but
he knew that Blanche had been con-
cealed by old Theriot, his father, who
had been loyal to his young mistress
in ner hour OF peril. He had never
seen her since that fateful day when
they had been surprised by her father,
but his gratitude and almost adora-
tion had never lessened. One day in
PeCiOn's office, he. overheard r. few
wo:d ds which madedis heart beat fast.
$50 that old satan, De Maupas-
SAINT, is in the last batch of prisoners?
They will all kiss the basket at noon
| to-day"
"Good!" Petion answered; "has
| the viper any brood?"
! Zone daughter, as handsome and
| insolent as an aristocrate can be.
She is hiding, they say, with one Of
her old servants; but that blood
hound Caresse goes in search of her
tomorrow. He never fails, Caresse
! does not, and she will be in La Force
before twenty-four hours"
As soon as the visitor left, Andre
! presented himself before Petion.
General" he said, II want g. pass
to absent myself for several days, and
to 60 where I wish. Give me one,
too, at the same time, for my sister,"
| "Aha, Theriot, of course, my boy!
[ Con, a. h i,,s, fon Tho ef